Sweden’s success in music (ABBA, Roxette and Avicii), design (glass and textile art) and furniture (IKEA) has brought the country a lot of international attention. Now it is Swedish fashion that is conquering the world. Here in Sweden we like to speak of the Swedish fashion miracle (“modeundret” or “modemiraklet”), which began with the jeans of the two companies Acne and Nudie.
What makes Swedish fashion?
Is there something that is typical of Swedish fashion, a common denominator? Perhaps. Quality, accuracy, fit and a simplicity that can border on minimalism are often named. Many companies, like H&M, are widely popular with their collections, but have nevertheless kept their “Nordic coolness”.
List of 60 Swedish fashion labels, designers and brands, with links to their websites
We checked and updated the following list in January 2022. We also deleted a few brands that seemed inactive. If you miss a brand here or detect a broken link, please get in touch with us.
Acne Studios
Acne Studios (formerly Acne Jeans) come from Stockholm and have women’s as well as men’s collections. They are hip, cool and a little bit snobbish. www.acnestudios.com
Björn Borg
Today, Björn Borg is associated with being sporty, creative and innovative. The Swedish fashion label produces mainly underwear. www.bjornborg.com
Boob
Boob’s patented nursing collection has become a favourite among mothers all over the world. Today Boob makes clothes for all stages of motherhood, with smart double function for pregnancy and nursing. www.boobdesign.com
Boomerang
Boomerang, from Stockholm, produces colourful and natural basics for the whole family, including children. It was founded in 1976. www.boomerangstore.com
Burfitt
Originally from Stockholm, Lovis Burfitt is located in Paris. Burfitt is also the champion of “limited edition illustrated t-shirts”. She doesn’t seem to have a website though. Therefore, it is difficult to say if she is still active.
Carin Wester
Carin Wester designs classic and casual fashion. She uses playful substances in very subtle colours, as well as black, white and, grey. Is sold through the Åhléns deparment stores in Sweden. www.carinwester.com
Chambres
The story started in 2012 when Sandra Näsström designed and made a super-light and very sensual slip for the models to wear under their couture gowns at a fashion show. The girls insisted on wearing them as dresses when they went out dancing that evening. Sandra was inspired by the idea of creating something adaptable that could be worn 24/7. She decided to name her new slip-dress Natalie, after the first model who wore it. www.chambres.se
Cheap Monday
Cheap Monday was from Stockholm. The brand was known for reasonably priced jeans and also did complete collections. Closed down in 2019 after 15 years. www.cheapmonday.com
COS
COS is a fashion brand for women and men who want modern, functional, considered design. COS is a brand under the H&M Group. www.cosstores.com
Craft
Craft is a Swedish brand specializing in functional clothing for endurance sports where performance and comfort are crucial for a good result. Craft works closely with elite athletes. www.craftsportswear.com
Creative Corgis Stockholm
The brand specializes in unique pocket squares made of silk. www.creativecorgis.com
Diana Orving
From Stockholm. More an artist than a fashion designer. www.dianaorving.com
Didriksons
Julius and Hanna Didrikson started making workwear for the fishermen in Grundsund, on the rim of Sweden’s western coastline, back in 1913. Today Didrikson is the leading brand of functional, rain- and weatherproof garments in Scandinavia. www.didriksons.com
DRKN
DRKN is a street fashion brand out of Stockholm that launched in May 2015. Their mission is to promote digital culture by way of clothing and style inspired by games, hacking, electronic music, digital art, and science fiction. www.drkn.com
Dughult of Sweden
Creates “superior quality clothing with the finest feel and a timeless, contemporary classic style. And only dresses, skirts, jackets and coats.” www.dughult.se
Filippa K
Filippa K combines continental flavour with Scandinavian-style purity. The designer is Filippa Knutsson. www.filippa-k.com
Fjällräven
Fjällräven became successful with backpacks, tents and sleeping bags, and is now one of the largest Swedish labels for functional clothing. www.fjallraven.se
Gudrun Sjödén
From Stockholm. Successful in many countries, especially Germany, Switzerland and Austria. All the textiles are made from natural materials. Website: www.gudrunsjoden.com/global
Haglöfs
Northern Europe’s largest manufacturer of outdoor products. Their range includes backpacks, sleeping bags, functional clothing and shoes. www.haglofs.com
Hope
From Stockholm. The chief designer comes from Peak Performance.
Website: www.hope-sthlm.com.
Hunkydory
From Stockholm, for women between 20 and 30. Visit www.hunkydory.com
Ida Sjöstedt
From Stockholm. For “beautiful, sexy clothes for women who do not take dressing up too seriously”. Website: www.idasjostedt.com.
ISBJÖRN of Sweden (for babies, kids and juniors)
The brand was founded in 2005 by Maria Frykman Forsberg and Camilla Schmidt. The business idea was born when they had their first babies, not finding proper outdoor gear for their little ones. The ISBJÖRN of Sweden collection covers the age from 0-14 years, offering all necessary layers kids will need for being active outdoors, at day care center or in the spare time with the family. www.isbjornofsweden.com
J. Lindeberg
J. Lindeberg is for the rich and beautiful Stockholmer, who likes to play golf. The label was founded in 1995. www.jlindeberg.com
KRISS
Considered as classic, exclusive, wearable and feminine (see the KRISS photo on top of this page). The collections are designed in the countryside near Uppsala. www.kriss.eu
Ljung
Men’s fashion from Stockholm, favoured by dandies and successful young people. Clever, practical and multifunctional. www.ljung.net
Mini Market (including shoes)
Began as a pure clothing label, but today also makes shoes. The designers and founders are three sisters from Stockholm. I am unsure if they are still active because they have a web shop without https. www.minimarket.se
NA-KD
One of Sweden’s hottest brands right now (2019). www.na-kd.com
Nakkna
Avant-garde, but wearable – that is what people say about Nakkna. The label comes from Stockholm. www.nakkna.com
Nathalie Schuterman
High-end fashion from Stockholm for the rich and famous, particularly people in fashionable Stureplan square who like to wear her designs. Visit www.nathalieschuterman.com
NIKOLAJ d’ETOILES
High-end men´s fashion. www.nikolajdetoiles.com
Nudie Jeans
Nudie Jeans come from Gothenburg. Nudie is influenced by the indie and sub-culture of the western Swedish city. www.nudiejeans.com
Odd Molly
Odd Molly really is a little “odd”: it is wayward, beautiful, humane, warm and playful. The designers at Odd Molly like to go their own way in fashion. www.oddmolly.com
Oscar Jacobson
A 110-year-old menswear brand, which includes golf apparel. www.oscarjacobson.com
Peak Performance
Peak Performance store in Gothenburg
Peak performance comes from Åre in Jämtland (where FIS alpine ski world-cup races are held almost every year). The brand is known for producing high-quality functional clothing. www.peakperformance.com
Pelle P
Functional clothing for sailing and skiing. www.pellepetterson.se
RESCHIA shoes
Reschia is a Stockholm-based designer shoe label that focuses on creating shoes with strong signature shapes that feature an eclectic use of materials and superior craftsmanship. www.notjustalabel.com/reschia
Resteröds
Produces not only underwear, but also chic, casual fashion. Founded in 1935 as “Resteröds Trikåfabrik”. resterods.com
Rodebjer
Rodebjer produces “effortless elegance for all occasions”. The designer Carin Rodebjer lives and works in New York. www.rodebjer.com
Saltabad
Saltabad is a swimwear brand from Gothenburg known for bikinis and swimsuits that focus on design, fit and quality. www.saltabad.com
Sätila of Sweden
Sätila of Sweden was founded in 1896 in the village of the same name deep in the Västergötland countryside. Since that day Sätila has designed, knitted and delivered hats, scarves and mittens worldwide. The brand became famous when they started producing Ingemar Stenmark’s handknitted cap, the “stenmarksmössa”. www.satila.com
Stutterheim
Handmade Swedish raincoats. www.stutterheim.com
Stylein
Stylein is a Swedish fashion company, launched in 2001 by founder and Chief Designer Elin Alemdar, while combining working as a stylist with studies at the Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.) in New York City. www.stylein.com
SWEDISH ECO – Men’s premium organic cotton underwear
The brand was born in Gothenburg with the idea of offering premium organic underwear. Swedish Eco products are made from certified organic cotton which is durable, soft and good for your body. www.swedisheco.com
Tiger of Sweden
Originally from Uddevalla on the west coast, the brand started in 1903 and has been very successful worldwide since 1993. They also produce jeans. www.tigerofsweden.com
Twist & Tango
Produces fashionable everyday clothes, which are meant to be fun. The successful brand comes from Haga, the Old Town district of Gothenburg. www.twisttango.com
Uniforms for the Dedicated
“Refined menswear for the conscious man.” www.uniformsforthededicated.com
Vagabond Shoes
A highly successful shoe brand from Varberg, Sweden’s “shoe capital”. www.vagabond.com
Veronica Virta
Clothes that are feminine and classic with a touch of colour, both for business professionals and the everyday woman. Timeless elegance with a luxurious feeling and with an endless possibility of combinations. www.veronicavirta.com
Weekday
Weekday is a progressive retail store concept offering jeans and creative fashion at an affordable price. www.weekday.com
WeSC
WeSC creates street fashion and street wear. The label comes from skateboard culture. www.wesc.com
Whyred
Whyred, from Stockholm, combines clean lines, neat shapes and idiosyncratic details. The major orientation is modernist. www.whyred.com did not work when I checked – but I found this link to an online retailer: www.ellos.se/brand/whyred#panel=product-filter
Featured image: KRISS
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